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FOPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
summary of recent earthquakes, which appears in the “New York Times” 
for July, Mr. C. Gr. Rock wood gives the following summary of the reported 
earthquakes during about the first three months of the present year 
(1876) : — 
Jan. 7. — Three shocks at the Island of St. Thomas, W.I., in the morning, 
the first at about 4 o’clock, the second at about 4.30, which was very severe, 
and the last three minutes later. 
Jan. 7. — A shock at 2.20 p.m. at Warner and Contoocookville, N.H. Its 
apparent course was from west to east, and its duration two minutes. 
Jan. 8. — A shock at 4.30 p.m. at Lockport, N. Y. 
Jan. 15. — A severe shock at midnight at China, Me. 
Jan. 21. — A shock between 3 and 4 a.m. at San Jos6, Santa Cruz, and 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Jan. 27. — Two shocks at Adrian, Mich. 
Jan. 29. — A shock at 9.05 p.m. at Annapolis, Md. 
Feb. 7. — A shock in the city of Mexico. 
Feb. 27. — A shock at Detroit, Mich. 
March 25. — Two slight shocks at 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Oaklands, Cal. 
April 10. — A shock was felt in a large portion of St. Mary’s County, Md.. 
attended by a rumbling sound. 
MEDICAL SCIENCE. 
The Form in which Iron exists in the Spleen. — MM. Picard and Malassez, 
starting from the fact that the proportion of iron in the spleen is greater 
than can be accounted for by the blood it contains, proceed to enquire 
whether this iron is present in the form of some special compound, or simply 
in that of haemoglobin fixed in the splenic tissue (“Comptes Rendus,” 
April 10, 1876). The latter view was found to be the correct one. The 
following was the mode of investigation adopted. The gland was thoroughly 
washed out by allowing a stream of salt solution (shown by Kuhne to be in- 
capable of dissolving haemoglobin) to flow through it until it escaped 
colourless from the splenic vein. Notwithstanding the complete removal of 
the blood, the organ still retained its deep-red colour. A stream of distilled 
water was then admitted into the artery ; it issued bright red from the vein. 
After about two litres had thus permeated the gland, the iatter was found 
to have lost its red colour, and no longer to tinge the water flowing through 
it. The colouring matter dissolved by the distilled water was proved by its 
behaviour towards oxygen, carbonic oxide, and reducing agents, to be ordinary 
haemoglobin. The decolourised spleen was then submitted to analysis, and 
found to be entirely free from iron. Hence the authors conclude that iron 
exists in the splenic tissue as a constituent of haemoglobin identical with that 
of the red corpuscles of the blood. 
A Poisonous Dye in Wines . — It has recently been discovered that the 
aniline dye known as fuchsine, or magenta, is largely employed by dishonest 
wine-growers in France for improving the colour of claret, and masking its 
dilution with water. Unpleasant symptoms have been observed to follow 
